Fire claims lives of four of a family on way to seek treatment for son

The 14-year-old son was battling thalassemia for nearly two years before perishing in the fire

Mohaimin Islam Fuad, a 14-year-old, had been battling thalassemia for two years. The progressive nature of the disease, which impairs the body's ability to produce blood, had taken a heavy toll on his health. Despite the mounting challenges, Fuad held onto a fierce will to live, determined to fight the odds.

His parents, Faruk Hossain Siddiqui and Mohsina Siddiqui, were on their way to Dhaka, transporting their son in an ambulance for advanced treatment after exhausting all options at hospitals in Tangail.

However, around 2am on Thursday, tragedy struck on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar’s Fulbaria, as two passenger buses collided with the ambulance from behind, leading to a devastating fire.

The blaze quickly engulfed the vehicle, resulting in the deaths of four family members, including Fuad.

Habib Siddiqui, Fuad’s uncle, told bdnews24.com: “The parents had countless dreams of saving their son. They had sought treatment from various hospitals, but the care in Tangail city offered no respite. Determined to give Fuad the best chance, they were on their way to Dhaka for advanced care."

But before reaching the hospital, their hopes were extinguished.

"The ambulance carrying Fuad was struck by two passenger buses. The vehicle caught fire, and Fuad, who was on the brink of receiving medical help, tragically perished in the flames," lamented Habib.

Three other members of the family lost their lives in the ambulance while en route to the hospital.

They are Fuad’s father Faruk, 50, mother Mohsina, 35, and aunt Mahfuza Akter Shima, 38.

Fuad was a ninth-grade student at the Bhaban Dutta High School in Tangail. His father was the headmaster of the very school Fuad attended.

Fuad's younger brother, 10-year-old Fahim, who is a student at Baketi Madrasah, is now left without both parents and a sibling.

The loss of four members of a single family has cast a heavy shadow of grief over the entire area.

Habib said, “Fuad died along with his parents and aunt in the fire. The driver of the ambulance managed to escape, so he survived. Their bodies are currently at the Suhrawardy Hospital in Dhaka. The bodies will be brought to their village homes after the legal process.”

Savar Fire Service Control Room Officer Shihab Sarkar said, “Two buses hit the ambulance from behind. At that time, the gas cylinder of the ambulance exploded and caught fire. Later, the fire spread to the ambulance and the two passenger buses.”

After receiving the news, two units of the fire service reached the spot around 2am and brought the fire under control after two hours, the fire service said.

According to Shihab, the bodies of the four people were recovered in burnt condition at that time.

The fire service was able to rescue seven injured victims from the two buses, who were later sent to a hospital for treatment.